Lightning strikes north Lynden home on Friday

LYNDEN — First came a flash of white brilliance followed by a strong rumble of thunder. But the next thing that happened surprised two residents of Aaron Drive as their home filled with smoke and power outlets turned black with char after the upper portion of their home had been struck by lightning.

During a Friday evening storm, the lightning strike on the Aaron Drive home east of Vinup Road ripped a hole at the top of the two-story home, about 10 inches wide and over 3 feet in vertical length, said Lynden Fire Department chief Gary Baar.